DNA Profiling at Molland Moor

A fascinating day yesterday inspecting and profiling the Molland Moor herd of Exmoor ponies.

This long-standing, free-living herd retains the desirable Exmoor pony characteristics and resilience through living on one of Exmoor's toughest moorlands.

However, the ponies cannot be registered in the closed Exmoor pony stud book, following failure to establish a definitive DNA baseline when DNA was brought in as a parentage requirement in the early 2000's. This is an excellent example of why an upgrading system to the stud book is required.

Great effort is now going into supporting Molland Moorland Herd 99 in establishing DNA profiling that will facilitate lineage tracking and help to safeguard this important herd of endangered Exmoor ponies.

These ponies are also awarded the MEPBG (Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group) Certificate of Authenticity - born and bred in Exmoor National Park by an MEPBG herd owner.

Inspecting the ponies closely yesterday, they have a lovely stamp - retaining the desired Exmoor pony mealy markings, thick coats and character. They have well laid shoulders and move well and are good, stocky ponies. The mature geldings show what gorgeous, up to size, well-conformed Exmoor ponies the colts mature into. The Molland ponies are well qualified for rewilding and conservation grazing and also make lovely riding ponies.

All Exmoor ponies are important and there is a pressing need to find a way to properly embrace the purebred as well as pedigree population within this critically endangered breed. There are significant numbers of perfectly good Exmoor ponies languishing outside of the closed Exmoor Pony Stud Book (in the UK and overseas).

Isn't it time that we recognised the issues that arose by bringing in DNA parentage verification as a pedigree registration requirement, for moorland populations often running in large wilderness areas with multi-herds running with multi-entires - but not for homebreds? And through not establishing a definitive, correct DNA baseline database at the beginning?

This has created anomalies and delays in the verification process, and 'inconclusives' and exclusions which jeopardise the survival of the ponies we are trying to safeguard.

In the meantime, it's exciting to be profiling the Molland Moor herd and establishing the all important DNA baseline for them.

Youngstock are available for sale now. More information and contact details for the Molland herd and the Dart family at https://www.mepbg.co.uk/moorland-herd-99

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